Salt Marsh

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Salt Marsh

Salt marsh grasses play a vital role in coastal ecosystems.

Provides habitat for fish, crabs, birds, and other wildlife.
Reduces shoreline erosion by trapping and accumulating sediment.
Buffers storm surge and filters runoff, improving water quality.

Tracking salt marshes gives us insight into how sea level rise, erosion, and storms impact these vital ecosytems.

How to Identify Salt Marsh Grass vs. Eelgrass

Salt Marsh Grass vs. Eelgrass

Salt marsh grass stands upright and is mostly dry, growing from mud or soil at the water’s edge. It is exposed during most tides, but is sometimes submerged during high tides.
Eelgrass grows underwater and is usually submerged. During extra low tides, you can see eelgrass lying flat like limp noodles.
Salt marshes resemble grassy fields and can stretch inland; eelgrass grows in shallow underwater areas of bays and inlets.
Think of salt marsh grass like uncooked spaghetti—stiff and upright. Eelgrass, on the other hand, is more like cooked linguine—soft, flat, and flowing.

Tap or click any image to open the full gallery.

How to Document Salt Marshes

Choose a location to monitor regularly
Visit during a lower tide to ensure the salt marsh is fully visible
Take a wide shot with a landmark for consistency. This allows us to track how the salt marsh is changing over time.
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Learn More About Salt Marshes

Learn about living shorelines and how they can help reduce erosion in salt marshes.

Watch: Which Green is Which?

Learn the difference between algae and other coastal plants.

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